Fastening device for securing the head of a hammer, hatchet, or the like



Feb. 20, 1934. E, Doaams 9 lllllllll4\\\\\ INVENTOR.

Filed June 18 1932 FASTENING DEVICE FOR SECURING THE HEAD OF A HAMMER,HATCHET, OR THE LIKE ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 20, 1934 FASTENING DEVICEFOR SECURING THE HEAD OF A HAMMER, HATCHET, OR THE LIKE George E.Dobbins, Philadelphia, Pa.

Application June 18,1932. Serial No. 617,935 7 3 Claims.

My invention relates to a new and useful fastening device for securingthe head of a hammer, hatchet, or the like, to its supporting handle ina detachable manner and yet in a manner calculated completely to preventthe accidental flying ofi or detachment of the head of the hammer orhatchet from its conventional wooden handle thereby entirely eliminatingall danger of injury resulting from the accidental disengagement of thehead of the hammer or hatchet during use.

To the above ends,'my invention consists of a cleat having an elongatedbody portion adapted to be wedged between the hammer head and the woodenhandle engaging said head and the seat within a groove in the body ofsaid handle, means for securing said body portion to said hammer,oppositely disposed lugs adapted to overlap and engage the outer edgesof said head, and a wedge shaped lug at right angles to said oppositelydisposed lugs and said body portion and adapted to be wedged into theedge of the wooden handle to expand the latter and insure rigidengagement of the wooden handle with the head mounted thereon.

My invention'further relates to various other novel features ofconstruction and advantage, all as hereinafter described and claimed inconnection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 represents a side elevation of the upper portion of a hammerhandle to which the head of ahammer has been secured by the fasteningdevice embodying my invention.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a section on line 3 3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a section on line 44 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a section on line 5--5 of Figure. 2,

Figure 6 represents a perspective view of the novel fastening device ofmy invention shown detached. g 1

Referring to the drawing in whi h like reference characters indicatelike parts, 1 designates a handle on which the head 2 of a hammer,hatchet many other instrument is mounted by insertion of the upper end 3of the handle 1 through the opening 4 usually provided in the head 2.The upper portion 3 of thehandle 1 is preferably provided withcontinuous shoulder 5 which is adapted to engage the bottom edge of theskirt 6 forming part of the hammer head 2, as will be seen from Figure5. In order to fasten the head 2 of the hammer to the handle 1 in amanner which will prevent: the accidental detachment and yet permit ofeasy detachment, I'

have devised a novel fastening device 8 which consists of the bodyportion 9 having the tap hcle 10 and which terminates at its upper endin the oppositely disposed lugs 11 and 12 at right angles 'to the bodyportion 9 and with the pendant wedge 13 extending from one of the lugs11 and l2 and disposed at right angles to said lugs and the said bodyportion 9, as will be'best seen in Figure 6. The upper portion 3 of thehandle 1 is provided with the groove 14 which is adapted to receive thebody portion 9 of the cleat 8 and is further provided with the hole 15aligning with the hole 10 to receive the screw 16 passing through thehandle 1 and engaging the tap hole 10, the

head of the screw 16 being countersunk in the other side of the handle,as will be best seen from Figures 3 and 4:.

The operation of my fastening device is as follows: The head 2, which,as stated, may be that of a hammer, hatchet, or any other instrument,

is slipped over the upper portion 3 of the handle 1 until the bottomedge of the skirt 6 rests upon the shoulder 5. In this position theupper edge of the handle is flush with the upper edge of the head, asseen in Figure 5. The cleat 8 is then inserted, so as to cause the bodyportion 9 thereof to seat within the groove 14 in the body of the 30handle and is forced down until the bottom edge 18 cf the cleat 9 restsupon the shoulder 19 in the bottom of the groove 14. In this positionthe hole 15 aligns with the hole 10 and the screw 16 is driven from theopposite side of the handle 1 to engage the tap hole 10, as seen inFigure 3.

While forcing the body portion 9 of the cleat 8 into the groove 14 inthe manner aforesaid, the

' wedge 13 is simultaneously driven into the upper portion 3 of thehandle-1, thus, expanding the latter within the opening a in the head 2and causing frictional engagement. When the cleat 9 has been forceddownwardly into position so that the hole 10 thereof aligns with thehole 15, the handle 1 and oppositely disposed lugs 11 and 12 whichoverlap the corresponding edges of the head 2 are in firm contact withthe head, as will be best seen in Figures 2 and 3. Thus the lugs 11 and12 firmly engaging the head 2 and being integral with the body portion 9which is anohored to the handle 1 by the screw 16, together with thefrictional engagement of the head 2 with the upper portion 3 of thehandle, due to I expansion of the latter by means of the wedge 13,

engagement with the upper portion 3 of the han- 1,10

dle, whereupon the head 2 can be easily removed.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. A fastening device for securing the head of a hammer or similar toolto the handle or stock thereof, comprising an elongated body portionadapted to engage a seat in the outer, head-supporting end of saidhandle, and having its bottom inner edge rounded to prevent cutting ofsaid handle during application of said fastening device, oppositelydisposed lugs at the outer end of said body portion, adapted to straddlethe outer face of the head of such tool and the outer end of saidhandle, a wedge carried by one of said lugs substantially parallel tosaid body portion and adapted to be driven into the outer end of saidhandle, and means for preventing movement of said fastening device withrespect to said handle comprising a shoulder in said handle againstwhich the inner end of said body portion is adapted'to abut'and anengagingdevice passing through said body portion and said handle.

2. A fastening device for securing the head of a hammer or similar toolto the handle or stock thereof, comprising an elongated body portionadapted to engage a seat in the outer, head-supporting end of saidhandle, oppositely disposed lugs at the outer end of said body poition,adapted to straddle the outer face of the head of such tool and theouter end of said handle, a wedge carried by one of said lugssubstantially parallel to said body portion and adapted to be driveninto the outer end of said handle, and means for preventing movement ofsaid fastening device with respect to said handle comprising a shoulderin said handle against which the inner end of said body portion isadapted to abut and an engaging device passing through said body portionand said handle.

3. A fastening device for securing the head of a hammer or similar toolto the handle or stock thereof, comprising an elongated body portionadapted to engage a seat in the outer, head-supporting end of saidhandle, oppositely disposed lugs at the outer end of said body portion,adapted to straddle the outer face of the head of such tool and theouter end of said handle, a Wedge carried by one of said lugssubstantially parallel to and spaced from said body portion and adaptedto be driven into the outer end of said handle, and means for preventingmovement of

